Night and the City [DVD] [1993] [Multilingual] [Region 1]

Shot at London Film Studio, Shepperton.
NIGHT AND THE CITY was released in June 1950.
In an interview with Patrick McGilligan, director Jules Dassin says that early in 1950, when the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) hearings were in full swing, he got into trouble over working with blacklisted writer Albert Maltz. Twentieth Century Fox studio head Darryl Zanuck--who was no friend of the committee--tried to protect Dassin. Zanuck went to Dassin's house at night and said, "Get out. Get out fast. Here's a book. You're going to London. Get a screenplay as fast as you can and start shooting the most expensive scenes. They might let you finish it." Zanuck's plan worked. Dassin went to London and shot NIGHT AND THE CITY. However, later, Dassin was to be named by an informer and blacklisted.
Director Jules Dassin says, in an interview with Patrick McGilligan, that just before shooting began on NIGHT AND THE CITY, Twentieth Century Fox studio head Darryl Zanuck called him in London, and said, "I want you to write in a part for Gene Tierney." Dassin replied, "She's a star. What do you mean 'write in' a part?" Zanuck said, "This girl has had un grand chagrin d'amour--'a big deception in love'--and is suicidal. I know her. She'll go to work and it'll save her." Dassin continues, "This from Zanuck, the guy who is known for being so, so tough, so heartless. We wrote in a part for her. Darryl sent me a one-word telegram: 'Thanks.' That was the unknown Zanuck."
Jules Dassin, who lives in Athens, Greece, and has directed movies in Greek, in French, and in English, actually grew up in Harlem and the Bronx in New York, playing stickball in the streets with his six siblings.
Additional cast: Aubrey Dexter (Chilk), Russell Westwood (Yosh), James Hayter (Figler), Maureen Delany (Anna O'Leary), Thomas Gallagher (Bagrag), Ken Richmond (Nikolas), Betty Shale (Mrs. Pinkney), and Tony Simpson (Cozen).
Additional crew: Freddie Fox & Robert E. Dearing (personal assistants to the producer), and George Mills & Percy Hermes (assistant directors).